The document is a media evaluation of a magazine created by the author. It summarizes how the author used conventions from style models like 'Q' magazine, developing and challenging some conventions. For the front cover, the author used similar colors and layout but different fonts. For the contents page, the author used similar features but changed the picture layout. For the double page spread, the author used conventions like a large letter but added a quote and changed colors. The summary provides an overview of how the author both incorporated conventions from style models as well as developed their own style.
1. Media Evaluation Anna Leggett 12D2 Anna Leggett Media Evaluation Candidate Number 8805
2. For style models I looked at conventions of ‘Q’ and ‘VIBE’, which both feature similar colour schemes to my final cut. My main image and title is similar to the issue of ‘Q’, and the layout of text on my front cover is similar to the issue of ‘VIBE’ that I looked at.
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9. Question Two: How my media product represents… Ethnic Minority My media product does not involve or mainly focus on a particular ethnic group. Mainstream/pop music focuses on and involves exploration of all different types of cultures, religions and races. Therefore I would like to think that my magazine portrays this, and features different ethnic groups. My product is aimed more generally without cultural bias. It’s hard to say what age groups are represented in my media product. The artists I featured are all fairly young, but the actual product is aimed at younger people, teenagers. However, the age group mainly represented within the magazine is early twentys – thirties. Age Gender Although my magazine features both male and female artists, the main image on the front cover and the main feature throughout is a female. However, this is merely a decision I made based on the theme and genre of the magazine. I also chose this artist because they are currently popular, which I thought would be good to incorporate into my magazine. Despite this, on the front cover and contents page there are male artists mentioned and photographed. Class & Status Although my aim was not to discriminate against any particular class, the language in my magazine could be seen as sophisticated. This could indicate that it would appeal more to those with a higher level of intelligence. However my magazine features artists who originate from what they describe as rough and unpleasant backgrounds, so I would like to think that I have not excluded any type of person regarding class or status in society. Also, the magazine is prices fairly cheaply at £1.65, therefore would be affordable by a wide majority of the public. This will hopefully describe how my media product involves, portrays and represents different social groups.
10. Question Three What kind of media institutions might distribute your media product and why? For this question I researched ‘Q’ magazines distributor and found a company called ‘WWMD’- World Wide Magazine Distribution. “WWMD is a joint venture business owned by the major UK news wholesalers. The activities of WWMD compliment the services offered by the news wholesalers. The core business for WWMD is the supply of British published magazines to niche and specialist retailers here in the UK, and globally in all four corners of the world.”
13. Question Four: My Audience Young people, Teenagers, who are interested in pop/mainstream music
14. Question Four: My readers Interests… Seen as my magazine focuses on pop and mainstream music, my readers main interest would not necessarily be music. Pop and mainstream music ranges immensely from dance/pop tunes to new, more original songs that are made popular by the charts. If my magazine was aimed at a more specific genre of music, such as rock or folk, music would probably be one of the readers main interests. Gender.. I think that girls and boys could both enjoy my magazine. The artists featured include both males and females, and a pop fans usually tends to like the artist because of their song and not based on their gender. Sexuality.. I think that the mainstream music industry addresses issues of sexuality quite often. There are many artists in the music industry that promote equality and I think that my magazine represents that industry fairly. If my magazine were to become popular and sold, I think that sexuality would not matter. Age.. The age of my target audience was teenagers from the age of about 15. however, because the genre of my magazine is so broad and has so many fans, I think that adults up to the age of 30/35 would still enjoy my magazine. This is because the content is quite serious, and my research showed that there was a lack of pop/mainstream magazines that were aimed at older people with a more sophisticated content.
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17. Question Six : What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this project? Clone stamp tool and healing brush tool are two tools I used the most to edit out flaws in skin and make up etc. I used the eye dropper tool a lot to make sure my colour scheme was maintained throughout. The rubber tool was another one I used a lot to edit out mistakes. Before making my magazine I had hardly used photoshop. After lessons I managed to use them to make my magazine look better and more professional.
18. Question Seven- Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? Brighter, bolder fonts and colours. Larger image that stands out more Developed skills using photoshop tools such as clone stamp tool and lasso tool Larger variety of fonts More text More organised colour scheme Through learning how to use the camera I was able to experiment more with shot types and frame a better close up for my front cover
19. Question Seven Continued Colour scheme is more maintained and bright. More effective use of camera angles, shot types More text Overall I think that from my preliminary task, the main things I have learnt are how to use photoshop more effectively to create better photographs, and how to edit my magazine to make it look more professional and presentable. My audience research also taught me what my target audience wanted to see, and I based a lot of aspects on what I found out during my research.